How to Make Reusable Snack Bags & Sandwich Wraps

Bid plastic bags good-bye. With a little time and less than a yard of fabric, you can make your own washable, reusable snack bags and sandwich wraps for meals on the go. Get our free printable template to create your own personalized version of our reusable bags and wraps.

Project tips:

100 percent cotton works best for outer fabric, but you can use anything you have.

Sandwich wraps and snack pouches can be made using fabric quarters or 18x22" fat quarters for the outer fabric, which means inexpensive fabric and less leftover material. Allow extra fabric for prints such as diagonal stripes.

Prewash all fabrics, especially if you are using a dark fabric that might bleed; press the fabric.

Use polyester thread, as it resists moisture transfer. This helps prevent food from drying out.

For the liner, ripstop nylon can work in place of polyurethane laminate (PUL) and still offer moisture resistance, but it is harder to sew.

Diaper precuts are the perfect size for the PUL. Again, less waste. But you are not likely to find a precut in white.

Use bobby pins instead of regular pins. They hold just as well and don't leave holes that compromise the moisture resistance of the piece.

Sandwich Wrap

What You Need

Outer fabric, 14-1/2" square

Liner fabric, 12-1/2" square

Ruler

Polyester thread

Fabric pen (optional)

Ribbon, 7/8" wide (optional)

T-shirt transfer paper (optional)

Small amount of fabric glue (optional)

Bobby pins

Hook-and-loop tape, 3/4x4-1/2" (cut the hard, hook side to 1-1/2". Leave the soft, loop side at 4-1/2".)

Instructions

1. With wrong side of outer fabric up, fold in a 1/2" seam on one side and press. Fold in a 1/2" seam again and press so you have a finished seam. Repeat on other three sides.

2. Miter corners either by simply folding or sewing.

3. If you are attaching a label, do so now.

Write name on ribbon, or use T-shirt transfer paper, following manufacturer's directions.

Measure the desired length of the label, and add 1/4"- 1/2" on each side for folding over. We measured 3/4" from the edge of the letters.

Fold behind on ends and finger-press. Use a small amount of fabric glue to hold in place if desired.

Place fabric, right side up, in front of you, as a diamond. Select which corner is going to be your top flap. Put that corner at the bottom.

Center the label 2-1/2" up from the bottom corner.

Sew into place using matching or contrasting thread; press.

4. Place outer fabric, right side down, on table. Place liner fabric, right side up (on PUL, this is the slick, shiny side), on top. Tuck liner under the unsewn seams of the outer fabric. Trim liner if needed so it fits flat. Use bobby pins to hold liner in place if needed.

5. Using 1/8" seam allowance, sew down inner edge of folded seam.

6. Choose a corner to be the top flap, or find the corner used for the label. Sew the 1-1/2" hook-and-loop tape 1/2" down from the corner, on the liner fabric, using a 1/8" seam allowance.

7. Sew the 4-1/2" loop tape 1/2" down from the opposite corner, on the outer fabric, using a 1/8" seam allowance.

Snack Bag

What You Need (Measurements for smaller bag are in parentheses.)

Two pieces of outer fabric, each 8-3/4x7-1/4" (6-3/4x6-1/4") (If using stripes or a directional pattern, the longer measurement is the width of the finished piece. The shorter measurement is the height.)

Two pieces of liner fabric, each 8-3/4x7-1/4" (6-3/4x6-1/4")

Polyester thread

Ruler

Bobby pins

Chopstick (optional)

Hook-and-loop tape, approximately 7" long (approximately 5")

Instructions (All seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.)

1. With right sides together, sew one outer piece and one liner piece together along one of the long sides. This is one bag unit. Repeat with remaining two pieces.

2. Open two bag units and stack, right sides together, matching the fabrics (outer above outer, liner above liner). Use bobby pins to hold if needed.

3. Sew along perimeter of the stacked units, leaving approximately 2" open on the outer fabric portion. (Having the opening at the bottom will show the least.) Make sure to lay the first joined seam flat, folding liner over liner and outer over outer. This will help the finished pouch lay flat.

4. If you want boxed corners, follow the next steps. If not, clip corners and skip ahead to step 5.

Picking any corner, match bottom seam line to side seam line, creating a triangle. Measuring in 1" from the triangle point, draw a 2" long line across the triangle. This won't show so you can mark it with anything.

Sew along the drawn line.

Trim excess fabric to create a 1/4" seam.

Repeat with other three corners.

5. Turn piece right side out through open seam. Use fingers or a chopstick to complete corner turns.

6. Tuck liner into bag and shape as needed. Finger-press the top edge where the two fabrics are joined.

7. Using bobby pins, center and hold the loop side of hook-and-loop tape to one of the inner sides of the top opening. Sew down with a 1/8" seam.

8. Using bobby pins, center and hold the hook side of the tape to one of the inner sides of the top opening. Sew down with a 1/8" seam.